Gaming for those who care to think.
Posts tagged Metroid
Video games and the battle against being irrelevant
Mar 31st
The Globe and Mail has an interesting column up by Chad Sapieha about the timelessness, or lack thereof, of video games. Basically, his argument is that video games, unlike film and literature, are not timeless. That a game played today will not echo with the same resonance ten years down the line. He has a point.
The problem with such arguments is that many tend to dismiss any game past a generation old. In other words, if it hasn’t been released in the past five years many will argue the title is irrelevant and, more absurd, no longer fun. Seriously? Why do people believe this?
Image of the day: the evolution of Nintendo, with special guest
Mar 4th
If you’ve spent much time browsing about online, odds are that you’ve seen those evolutions of Mario complication images. Some have even included Link from The Legend of Zelda. This new one, however, is above all the rest. Not only does it feature Mario, Link, Samus, Donkey Kong and Kirby, but it features a certain blue guest star. Will someone eventually top this one? Yes, but that’s probably a bit much for most. Click on the image for a full sized version.
Video of the day: Mirror’s Edge pushes boundaries of first-person games
Mar 4th
Mirror’s Edge is Electronic Arts new attempt at breaking the boundaries of first-person games. Other titles have attempted this with some success. The Metroid Prime series and Breakdown have both revised the rules of what one could do in a first-person title. This interview with the developer offers some insight into how they’re planning to go about their own unique vision. For one, the game is drawing in a torso, legs and arms. Rejoice in the death of the floating gun syndrome so many first-person-shooters suffer from.
The precarious problem with the Wii’s first year
Feb 23rd
The Wii has been an unquestionable retail success so far. No one would have expected over a year after its launch it would still be difficult to find in stores, and it would still be outselling both the PS3 and Xbox 360. In the mindshare of so-called hardcore gamers, however, it has had a much rougher time. “Where are the games for us?” they cry out. The problem is that it’s rather difficult to see with both eyes closed.
The Wii has suffered through a drought of games on par with the PS3 and Xbox 360 in their first years of life. Not only those systems, but it has actually fared better than some classic systems such as the PS2 and N64. So, what is everyone complaining about? While the games are there, they aren’t exactly there the way many ways would want.
While Super Mario Galaxy was a true AAA title, many gamers were disappointed not by a lack of innovation or decent control, but instead by a lack of high-resolution textures. Similar criticism was leveled against The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Still, many hardcore players seem to miss the point that right there they have three AAA titles within the first year of a console’s release. The fact that the Wii is not the hardware equivalent of the PS3 or Xbox 360 is simply something they’ll have to get over, or miss quality games. This is the same as bringing one’s self to term with the concept that the DS and PSP will never be the graphical equal of their big brother consoles. More >
Top five most influential SNES games
Feb 20th
Super Mario All-Stars
While a good argument can be certainly be made for Super Mario World and Yoshi’s Island (the proper Mario sequels on the system), both of those games were in many ways evolutions of the Super Mario Bros. 3 formula. Super Mario All-Stars on the other hand was a breath of fresh air by reaching back to the past. While console gaming was still young, Super Mario All-Stars marked the first major release in a special genre known to many other mediums. In music one might label it a greatest hits album. In film you would label each game a remake, or perhaps just a restoration. Whatever the case, this compilation would change how gaming looked at its past. Whenever you enjoy a retooled classic for Xbox Live Arcade, remember that it was this game that laid the groundwork. More >
